Sound The Midnight Cry

“When Nonconformist Conform”

This past week, the internet was buzzing with the proclamation coming out of Atlanta of a minister being crowned a king (yes, you read that correctly). In King James Bible terms, it created “no small stir” among the people”!

The pastor of a mega-church was coronated on the stage in front the thousands of church members and attendees. A supposedly “Jewish ceremony” (which was totally false in every way) was performed ending with the pastor being lifted up on a chair, carried around by for four men and the crowds cheering while the guest ‘rabbi’ declaring he is now a king. (video link)

The video of this whole charade was posted online and went viral overnight. If you are not familiar with the term ‘viral’ other than a disease, it simply means a video that becomes popular through the process of internet sharing.

The response from the video posting caused a huge backlash among the Jewish community for what was purported to be Jewish traditions that couldn’t have been further from the truth. Within the Messianic Christian circles, the response again was one of disdain citing the erroneous teaching being professed to be of biblical origin.

The irony has been the secular response in as much as it was shown on CNN the day after the event took place. Those that don’t pretend to be religious in any way have posted videos mocking it as another Christian “con” on the innocent people.

The amazing thing to me is that no one in that building seemed to see anything wrong with the goings on there. To date, no one that was there has written one word or spoken out against the proceedings carried out “in the name of the Lord”. The fact that no one present that day has called into question what was done and/or said should cause us to ask the question, “Why?”

As I watched the supposed spiritual conveying of kingship, I couldn’t help be reminded of 1 Samuel 8 when Israel told the prophet Samuel, “We want a king over us. Then we will be like all the other nations.”

The Church today desperately needs an infusion of spiritual vitamin D-–Discernment, especially within the realm of those that profess to be “filled with the Spirit” where there seems to be an increasing deficiency.

Christians are called to “Test all things; hold fast that which is good.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21) It seems more and more that people filling the pews of "spirit-filled" churches seem to be "ignoring all things; swallow everything that is said".  As J. Lee Grady, contributing editor for Charisma magazine so aptly put it, “With so little discernment among “Spirit-filled” believers today, it’s not hard to imagine that an anti-Christ figure could boldly march right into a church, climb in a leather chair and be anointed as a king.”

Alexander Hamilton said, “Those who stand for nothing fall for everything.” If Christians don’t ask God to remove the blinders from their spiritual eyes and start to read their bibles with an open mind and heart, this kind of stuff will continue and only get worse.

Christians are called to stand for truth; to be nonconformist to the accepted behavior of culture. When the nonconformist conforms, there is no one left to uphold the standard. And when the King of kings returns, what will they offer as their excuse?

The Apostle Paul said, “Therefore let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” Good words for every Christian today!

 

“No Effect”

Have you ever heard someone exclaim, “That has no effect on me?” The claim is that something or someone has no final outcome as to the behavior of the person. An example might be specific prescription used for relieving pain. The drug may work for the majority of people but have no impact on others. It doesn’t mean that the product in ineffective as a whole; it simply means that its intended result doesn’t work as it should for some people.

This week an article appeared relating to a new study that was headlined, “Nearly half of churchgoing Americans say church doesn’t have an effect on their lives.”

“Nearly half (46 percent) of churchgoing Americans report that their lives have not changed at all as a result of attending church... nearly one-third of individuals report not having ever felt God’s presence while attending church” according to the Barna Group, an evangelical company that studies faith in America.

The article did point out that there are those that can point to a point of influence or change as a result of their attending church. Yet, the article noted of those that participated in the study, “Six-in-ten church attenders, when asked to recount their last visit to a house of worship couldn’t remember any significant insight they gained related to their faith. Even more startling, among those who attended church in the past week, half said that they couldn’t recall any spiritual tidbits.”

There are so many questions that arise from this study that it’s hard to know where to focus one’s attention. Some people would simply shrug it off by saying, “It’s a sign of the times” meaning that it’s a fulfillment of scripture referring to that in the last days people’s hearts growing cold towards God. However, that wouldn’t be exactly true as the study concerned those that were attending church. I would like to think that at least some of them are there looking to find something.

If there is a place to start in trying to find out where the problem lies, I would suggest that it isn’t in the pews of the church but rather the pulpits and those filling them. I remember many years ago attending an event in Shreveport, Louisiana to hear the late David Wilkerson speak. Before he did, he invited to the podium the elderly Leonard Ravenhill (now deceased) to say a few words. I will never forget what he said that day to over 1,000 ministers gathered in that place.

“Almost 40 years ago I wrote a book titled, “Why Revival Tarries”. I’m writing a new book called, “Why Revival Still Tarries”. Do you want to know the reason why it hasn’t come yet?” (the response was a unanimous “Yes”). At that moment, Ravenhill pointed his finger at the crowd of ministers and said, “You’re the reason!” and he simply walked back to his seat.

Leonard Ravenhill’s point was clear: if there is no effect on the person in the pulpit, how can one expect there to be any effect upon the people in the pews.

Yes, there will be those that fall away in the last days for various reasons. However, the same scriptures say that there will be many who come into the knowledge of knowing Jesus Christ.

Church attendance in itself is not the answer; experiencing the power of Christ to change one’s life and the daily presence of His love is the answer.

It’s time for this cause and effect to happen from pulpit to the pew so that the Church is impacting the world instead sitting in pews waiting for something to change them.

Are you ready?

 

“Walk Forward With Confidence”

As we stand on the threshold of a New Year, none of us know what lies ahead. Many of the predictions for 2011 never came to pass. Yet, many people are fearful of the future because of the “unknown” factor. That fear paralyzes them from ever fulfilling the purpose of their life. So the question that needs to be answered is, “How can one face the future without fear and with a sense of purpose?”

In John 14:1, Jesus told his disciples, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.” Jesus is trying to let them know that He is about to go away and that things are going to be different than they had been for the last 3 years. As He reveals some of the plan for the disciples, Thomas asked the question that many people today would ask; “How can we not be fearful about the future? You say you are leaving and we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” (John 14:5) The fear of the unknown has struck the hearts of his closest friends.

Change is difficult for most people. We like the conveniences that technology and science bring our way but we don’t like what we don’t know. The disciples were not any different so Jesus reveals this truth: “… The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.” John 14:10

All that was happening in the life of Jesus was the work of his Father in heaven: His birth, his flight into Egypt, his growing up as the son of a carpenter, his encounters with the religious leaders of the day, and the miracles done by his hands. All this was the working of the Father.

And what lay ahead of him was also the working of the Father: The betrayal by a friend, the trial by his peers, the beatings by the soldiers, the mocking of the crowd, and the laying down of his life. All this too was part of the working of the Father. But let's not leave it there: the resurrection, victory over death, hell, and the grave were also a working of the Father.

The point is this: With Jesus Christ as our source, we can face the challenges of each day with the understanding that He is working His work in us. (Romans 8:28). What God has started, He is able to complete.

So face 2012 with a sense of purpose, a sense of destiny and a sense of adventure and walk forward in confidence of the One who has called you His own!

 

“A Historic Date—Again!”

It’s a unique date not to be seen again: November 11, 2011 or as it is known on the internet “11/11/11”! And whenever there is a distinctive calendar phenomenon, inquiring minds begin to wonder a possible “hidden” meaning attached to it. (I think we did this last year on 10/10/10).

Mathematicians are quick to note that 11 is the fifth prime number (contrary to popular belief, the number “1” is not a prime number). The base numeric number system lends itself to some interesting peculiarities as relates to the number eleven. Base 10 for example:

• (2 digits) 11 x 11 = 121
• (6 digits) 111111 x 111111 = 12345654321
• (9 digits) 111111111 x 111111111 = 12345678987654321

Okay, I see most of you yawning but it is interesting even if you don’t understand it.

Historians look back (that what historians do) and try to connect any noteworthy event of the past centuries with the current date. I searched online and noted that even when taking into account the differences between the Gregorian and Julian calendars, nothing significant appears to have happened during the year 1111, 1011 or 11. However, I am not a not a historian, so you might take a look yourself.

Then there is the everyday kind of person—folks that talk on the job, at church or other gathering places and share their speculation as to what the importance the date reveals. The majority of people would choose one of the following three outcomes to the meaning of the date 11/11/11:

One - Something good happens. There is no scientific basis for this belief. The belief that something good will happen is usually based solely on one’s religious faith, a natural positive outlook or a ‘gut’ feeling. This belief is not necessarily a bad thing; however, a ‘good feeling’ is not something you can lean on everyday (faith “yes”, good feeling “no”).

Two - Nothing happens. This is the most likely scenario. Why? Just because an unusual string of numbers forms a date on the calendar, doesn’t mean that something extraordinary will happen; the date usually comes and goes.

Three - Something bad happens. Once again, there is no scientific foundation for this belief. The idea that something bad will happen is based solely on superstition or a pessimistic outlook of life. This belief is not necessarily wrong; after all, bad things happen on a regular occurrence. So the probability is not zero,  but again, not something to live your life by.

So at the end of the day, what can anyone learn from this?

Psalms 90:12 says, “So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

That speaks to me that every day is precious. It tells me that every day has purpose—now and for eternity. It tells me to take advantage of every moment of every day knowing that the One who holds tomorrow, is walking with me today. Whether it’s a good day, bad day or just a regular day that transpires, if I live it with the understanding that one day I will give an account for my life, it doesn’t matter what date is on the calendar. It’s when the last day is over that the importance of 11/11/11 (and every other day) will be determined.

So live your life on purpose and with purpose and we’ll do it again on 12/12/12!

 

“When Pure Enough, Isn’t Good Enough!”

I remember as a child a TV commercial for Ivory Soap. They touted how it was 99.44% pure. The idea was that this brand was more pure than any other soap.

The idea behind this was to develop a new marketing angle for the product. Then as now people were impressed by scientific testimonials, and it was decided that if they could present a lab test showing Ivory was "purer" than other soaps, they would win sales.

Trouble was, there wasn't a standard for purity in soap, so an independent scientific consultant in New York to concoct one. Once this was done, a new comparison was done against the leading soap product and it won. The slogan was attached to everything to do with Ivory and a major advertising campaign was born.

Now when it comes to soap, I guess the idea of being 99.44% pure is something to brag about. However, when it comes to other things, that .56% isn’t something to just gloss over such as drinking water. Ask your self, would you purchase and drink a bottle of water that said, “99.44% purified water?” The other .56% of “other things” would make a big difference!

This has been on my mind for over a week since reading in the news Joel Osteen’s response concerning Mormon beliefs. He stated, “I believe that [Mormons] are Christians. ... I don’t know if it’s the purest form of Christianity, like I grew up with.” He affirmed Mormon statements that Jesus is the Son of God and that He is Savior.

Let me state that I am not on a Joel Osteen bashing trip! However, the problem with his statement is that the “devil” is in the details—literally. Mormon theology teaches that Lucifer is Christ's spirit brother, that Jesus' birth was the product of sexual intercourse between God and his daughter Mary. Their central tenet of their faith is: "As Man is, God once was, as God is, Man may become."

As I have stated before, I am not saying that Mormons are not good people. They put great emphasis on moral values and personal character. But their beliefs concerning Jesus Christ are not those found in the Bible, and their understanding of salvation doesn’t reflect the teachings of the New Testament.

It is obvious that it isn’t a matter of being the “purest form of Christianity”—it’s a counterfeit at best. The Apostle Paul warned the believers of his day concerning those that would change the truth.

There’s an old saying of “What you don’t know, won’t kill you.” However, logic says otherwise especially when it comes to poisons, toxins, pollution and contamination. To ingest something that is almost pure is playing with fire. To accept the word of someone based upon their perception of what is okay is foolishness.

Second Corinthians 11:3-4 says, “But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent. You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach…”

It’s time to stop compromising and stand for 100% pure truth and not a watered down opinion that is contrary to the Bible!

 

“Caught Cheating”

Every person has at one point in their life felt cheated. It may come by purchasing something that was presented in a manner different from the actual product. It may come by someone lying to us so as to cause us to do or give something for the individual. It may simply be a case of someone deceiving others to cover their actions such as in a game or competition.

Every child has been faced with people that cheat. How many times a child sees another child get away with cheating and their response is, “It’s not fair!” To try and explain that “even if someone cheats, they should always do what’s right” is a tough pill to swallow for a child—or an adult!

Cheating has become so prevalent in our society that several different reality shows have been produced for television. Popular shows have individuals with cameras following spouses in ‘cheating’ relationships, or hidden cameras in the work place to catch employees stealing from their place of employment.

The point that amazes me is that when the cheater is caught, they always seem to justify their actions. Those that have been cheated obviously don’t agree with their argument. However, the people that watch the shows many times will agree with the perpetrator—unless of course, it was them.

You are probably wondering the reason for my writing on this subject. It occurred to me after reading an article yesterday that stated, “Joel Osteen Says Mormons Are Christians”. Now I know the flaming arrows of Joel’s defenders are being lit at this very moment to come against me. However, truth cannot be ignored, debated or side-stepped when someone or some group defiles it. If you think the word ‘defile’ is too strong, consider that it means “to corrupt or ruin something; to make a holy thing no longer fit; to make something polluted”.

Joel’s response came as he responded to criticism of GOP candidate Mitt Romney’s Mormon beliefs. “I believe that [Mormons] are Christians. ... I don’t know if it’s the purest form of Christianity, like I grew up with.” He affirmed Mormon statements that Jesus is the Son of God and that He is Savior.

This is not to say that Mormons are not good people. They put great emphasis on moral values and personal character. They talk freely and passionately about their own beliefs, including their beliefs concerning Jesus Christ. But their beliefs concerning Jesus Christ are not those of traditional Christianity, and their understanding of salvation in no way reflects the teachings of the New Testament.

Many people will say, “But look at all the people he is bringing to Christ”. The questions must be asked, “Which Christ are people coming to?” Or, “What about those that will never seek Christ because he told them Mormons are Christians or those they may join Mormonism?”

Colossians 2:8 says, “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.”

Joel Osteen told The Washington Times that he is constantly “looking for new ways to influence the culture.”  Jesus clearly said, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’”

 The only biblical way to influence our culture is to not cheat them by not proclaiming the truth!

 

“The Wedding Mystery Unveiled”

I love it when the Bible comes to life right before you eyes. A passage of scripture that you have read many times all of a sudden takes on a fresh understanding; it’s like discovering buried treasure!

Now I’m not talking about reinterpreting the Bible—it is able to stand on its own validity. Many people try to change the meaning of scripture to fit their pet theology or ideology. I personally have a rule that whenever a person consistently reads a bible passage then begins with “Now that’s not what it really means…” a red warning flag begins waving. It is something akin to the robot on “Lost in Space” with arms waving yelling, “Danger, danger!”

Recently in a conversation with a person concerning the events taking place in the world, they asked, “So I guess there’s no hope for the future?” To which I responded, “Oh yes there is!”

First Thessalonians 4:18 commands us to “encourage one another with these words.” What words? That Jesus Christ is coming again and His next visit is to gather those people who are watching for His return. This is known in Christianity as the “Rapture of the Church”.

Now there are many people that will tell you that this teaching is nothing more than a concept dreamed up over the years by people hoping to escape the difficulties of life. Other people miss the element of encouragement by arguing over if it will happen and if it does, when will it happen.

Recently while reviewing the structure of a Jewish wedding in the times of Christ, several items became more relevant to me than in times past. One characteristic that reaffirms the return for His Church becomes clear when looking at the Jewish wedding.

After the betrothal, the groom would leave to make the “huppah” – the house for his bride. When the groom’s father determined it was ready to be occupied, he would announce to the groom to go get his bride. This is exactly what Jesus said in John 14:2-3 and Matthew 24:36.

There would then be a marriage supper for all the guests invited by the father of the bride. The Bridegroom and party would come to retrieve the waiting bride and go back to the groom's house in a celebratory procession. The bride and groom would enter the huppah where they would spend a week in privacy together, while the wedding celebration would continue. After 7 days, the groom and bride would rejoin them in public celebration.

When you look at this process and consider the vision in the book of Daniel of 70 weeks, the time frame for the Rapture becomes clear. We know that 69 weeks took place before the cutting off of Messiah (death of Christ on the cross) leaving one 7 year period to be fulfilled. The Book of Revelations tells of a period of time known as the Great Tribulation which spans seven years.

From these verses and the process of the Jewish wedding, we understand two things:

• One, Jesus is preparing a place and He is coming again for us. 
• Two, the Marriage Supper of the Lamb written in Revelations takes place during a week (7 year) before coming forth in His Second Coming to earth!

The times may look difficult but The Hope of our lives is coming soon. The wedding mystery is unveiled—Jesus is coming soon!

 

“A Moment of Silence”

This past week, Americans have been reminded of the tragedy that took place on September 11, 2001. Programs, documentaries, interviews of survivors and plans for the 10 year anniversary of the events that changed the world that day have been daily on our television screens.

As I write this article, the financial markets on Wall Street are remembering the events of September 11^th with a moment of silence. At appointed times marking the attacks and the collapse of buildings, the workers stop for a moment of silence. The purpose of the moment of silence is to remember not only the events of that infamous day, but the friends, colleagues and all the people that perished when the towers fell.

A moment of silence is the expression for a period of silent contemplation, prayer, reflection, or meditation. Similar to flying a flag at half-mast, a moment of silence is often a gesture of respect, particularly in mourning for those who have recently died or as part of a commemoration ceremony of a tragic historical event.

In Israel, moments of silence are held on Yom HaShoah in memory of the victims of the Holocaust, and Yom Hazikaron in memory of fallen soldiers and terror victims. The moments of silence are marked by the nationwide sounding of a steady siren. During this time, all Israelis stand at attention and the whole country comes to a standstill as people pay silent tribute to the dead.

As I reflected on these events leading to this weekend, much of the event planning revolves around the ability of nation to rebuild. The new towers going up are said to be a declaration to the terrorist of the world that you cannot keep America down. Today, it was said that the anniversary of 9/11 is a reminder to all that would bring terror to the United States, understand that “we will hunt you down and we will find you”.

As patriotic as all this might seem, there is an element of pride behind these statements and events. It would seem that what is needed is not patriotic fanfare or the bragging of the strength of our nation to rebuild. With no disrespect to honoring the people that died on that terrible day, what we need more than a moment of silence is America crying out—crying out to God.

2 Chronicles 7:13-14 is clear: “When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” I we cry out, God will hear.

How sad that the mayor of New York City has made it clear that the 9/11 Anniversary Memorial will not include any clergy. This should not be surprising knowing that evening at the Washington National Cathedral; the planners have invited a Hindu priest, a Buddhist nun, the president of the Islamic Society of North America and a Muslim musician – but not an evangelical Christian.

Maybe someone should remind President Obama, who professes to be a Christian and is slated to speak to those gathered at the National Cathedral of 2 Chronicles 7:14. Whether it’s politically correct or not, there is only one God who is able to hear, able to deliver and able to save us from ourselves—and someone needs to say so!

 

“The “G” Word”

The word “government” doesn’t exactly conjure up any warm-fuzzy thoughts—at least not for the average citizen. The mention of “government” is usually attributed to taxes, legislation, bureaucracy and the proverbial red tape. The mere reference to “government” evokes the picture of intrusion, frustration, confusion and the sheer sense of disillusionment. All one has to do is look at the recent polls to find that most Americans don’t give the members of our government a very high rating. The reasons are many but the grade is the same: Failing.

There are a lot of things that come to mind when we use the word “government”, but I don’t think anyone would think it synonymous with the concept of “family”. Yet, according to press reports by FEMA released during Hurricane Irene last week, our government has somehow been transformed into our “family”.

“Under the direction of President Obama and Secretary Janet Napolitano, the entire federal family is leaning forward to support our state, tribal and territorial partners along the East Coast,” a FEMA news release declared Friday as Irene churned toward landfall.

So there you have it; the U.S. government is now your family. And with it comes a sense of security and comfort that only comes in the safety of ones home under the watchful eye of loving parents. 

An article in the Palm Beach Post this past week noted that under President Bush, the phrase “federal family” appeared a total of 10 times. Since President Obama took office, “federal family” has turned up 118 times on www.fema.gov, including 50 Irene-related references.

It would appear that the view of most Americans is poor when it regards the U.S. government—so bad that the “g-word” is being replaced by “federal family”. The idea conveys that family takes care of one another—at least, that is what FEMA would like you to think.

I guess that there might be some that would accept this notion. However, in this day when everything around us is being monitored, recorded and stored in some information vault, “federal family” tends to conjure images of Big Brother written about George Orwell’s, 1984.

As I read these FEMA statements, I’m reminded that I already belong to a family—a family of believers in Jesus Christ. My heavenly Father already knows my needs, my fears and joys. He provides a security that no government agency could ever hope to bring and resources that will never be in short supply.

So FEMA might try to replace the “g-word” with “federal family”, but it will never replace the “G-Word” for my life. God’s Word is true—and it gives me great peace and security!

 

“Stock Market Crash, The White House and Jerusalem”

Carnac the Magnificent was a recurring comedic role played by Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Carnac was a “mystic from the east” who could use psychic powers to unseen answers to unknown questions. The act involved giving the answer to a question written on a card sealed inside an envelope, announcing it to the audience, and then tearing open the envelope to reveal the question. The comedy came from an unexpected question following a seemingly straightforward answer.

I was reminded of this after reading an article in The Washington Times by Daniel Pipes (August 16, 2011). He pointed out how “the White House engaged in two furtive gambits last week that painfully exposed the Obama administration's amateurish, deceitful Middle East-Islamic policies.”

The author noted that U.S. policy has maintained that Jerusalem does not belong to any country but is an entity unto itself (in accordance to a 1947 U.N ruling). The fact that Israel has declared Jerusalem to be its capital is supposedly not acknowledged by the U.S.—or is it?

"The executive branch seems to ignore U.S. laws from 1995 (requiring a move of the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem) and 2002 (requiring that U.S. documents recognize Americans born in Jerusalem as being born in Israel)" Pipes reported. Yet, the U.S. Administration still wants to maintain that Jerusalem doesn’t belong to any country.

Now a lawsuit against the U.S. State Department has reached the U.S. Supreme Court. The reason for the lawsuit: the “American parents of Jerusalem-born Menachem Zivotofsky demanded on his behalf that his birth certificate and his passport list him as having been born in Israel”, to which the State Dept said “no”.

On Aug. 4, Rick Richman of The New York Sun noted, “The White House acknowledges on its own website that Jerusalem is in Israel — as does the State Department and the CIA on theirs,” undermining the government's case. Richman pointed to three mentions of “Jerusalem, Israel” in captions for pictures on the White House website in connection with a trip by Vice President Joe Biden in March 2010.

On Aug. 9, Daniel Halper of The Weekly Standard reiterated Mr. Richman's point by posting the first of those pictures. Two hours and four minutes later, Mr. Halper reported that “the White House has apparently gone through its website, cleansing any reference to Jerusalem as being in Israel.” The new caption reads, “Vice President Joe Biden laughs with Israeli President Shimon Peres in Jerusalem.”

All of this underscores the clear intentions of the U.S. Administration (although they would like us to believe otherwise) in its effort to ignore the past relationship with Israel and appease the Islamic nations surrounding it. Jerusalem is the declared capital of Israel, yet the White House thinks it can change that with an eraser.

If Carnac were here today, he would hold the envelope to his head, concentrate and say, “Stock market crash, The White House and Jerusalem”. He would then open the envelope and read, “What happens to your money when the White House tries to erase the capital of Israel.”

Enough said!